Page:Myths and Legends of British North America.djvu/85

 THE HOUSE OF SUN

Bella Coola

HE House of Sun stands in the center of the lower heaven. It has other names. Sometimes it is called "Where man was created," sometimes "House from which people come down," and sometimes "House to which people go."

In front of the house stands a great pole, painted with birds of every kind, with the white crane sitting on top of the post. The master of the house is Sun. He is also called "Our Father," and sometimes the " Sacred One." The Bella Coola pray to Sun. When they go hunting they say, "Look on us, where we are going, Father." Or they say, "Take care of us, Father." After long rain, they pray, "Wipe your face, Father, that it may be fair weather." The hunter who has shot deer, or the woman who has found many berries, prays, "Father, you make me happy; you give me what I desire; thus I find what I wished for!"

The Bella Coola also make offerings to the Sun. Hunters throw four small slices of seal meat, or of mountain-goat tallow, into the fire, as an offering to Sun, to obtain success in hunting.